Below you will find book reviews for books that have a travel-edge. Some of these books are also included in the KidsTravelBooks directory, but not all of them. Some of the book reviews below are partnered with either specific travel experiences or reviewed because they help promote cultural understanding at home.

Today I have a guest post from my friend, Lisa, who writes at Knocked Up Abroad. She shared with me a new book that’s launching a fundraising campaign on IndieGoGo. The idea of the book and the campaign seemed interesting to me and to the KidsTravelBooks audience that I had to share. I’ll let Lisa tell you more:

Marie Curie and the Power of Persistence. Photo Credit: My Science Heroes

The Marie Curie Alumni Association has created a new illustrated children’s book called Marie Curie and the Power of Persistenceto bring the amazing life of Marie Curie and her advanced discoveries in science to life for the next generation of critical thinkers.

Marie Curie and the Power of Persistence uses a novel storytelling approach to bring this historical figure to life for readers both young and old. Written and illustrated as a dynamic superhero story, this book introduces children to important scientists and their key accomplishments in a fun and engaging way.

Unlike other children’s book about historical figures, this book focuses not on the achievements of the two-time Nobel Laureate but instead on her personality traits that are inherent in all young children—persistence.

About Marie Curie

Marie was born in Warsaw, Poland as Maria Sklodowska in 1867. She fought against the commonly held societal belief that women were not smart enough for higher education by educating herself in underground networks.

Marie Curie on the train in Marie Curie and the Power of Persistence. Photo Credit: My Science Heroes

When she was 24 years old, she moved to Paris, France. There she attended Sorbonne University where she earned not one but two advanced degrees. Her groundbreaking scientific discoveries with radium and polonium and radioactivity resulted in scientific recognition with two Nobel Prizes—one in chemistry and one in physics.

Marie Curie’s appeal to children

In her life’s story, the power of persistence is a recurring theme. In the children’s book, Marie relies on her superpower during her ongoing battle with her arch nemesis, Mr. Opposition. Throughout her life, society and institutional limitations threatened to block her progress. Determined to become educated and successful, Marie Curie persisted.

Marie Curie represents a strong-willed role model for both girls and boys. She is the only person to ever win two Nobel Prizes. This story demystifies her complex discoveries using language that early readers can understand.

Children love epic adventures complete with heroes, villains, and incredible superpowers. This book delivers all of that with dynamic and infectious energy.

Today, Marie Curie’s persistent spirit is taking over the world. Parents, teachers, librarians, and science lovers discover this new perspective of a famous figure.

Marie Curie and the Power of Persistence is available to pre-order now through IndieGogo, June 1 – July 4, 2017. Extra perks to complement and enhance the story, such as fun kid-friendly experiments and learning resources are available only through the campaign.

Marie Curie and the Power of Persistence. Photo Credit: My Science Heroes

Prepping for a trip. Packing suitcases. Enjoying the journey. Discovering new sites and sounds. Experiencing different things. Trying new food. Learning first hand. Finding the connection with the familiar back home, in an unfamiliar place. And saying goodbye.

Discover Thailand, the first book in a new series, does all of that. It prepares kids for a vacation to Thailand, by giving kids a realistic view of what their trip would look like – through the eyes of the main characters, Aya and Bobby.

A Recap of Discover Thailand

Aya and Bobby are siblings getting ready to visit Thailand for the first time. Before their trip, they learn more country to help prepare. We follow them as the pack their suitcases and sit through the long flight to Thailand.

Once in Thailand, through the magic of words and illustration, we make our first discovery in Thailand. It’s busy! Using the local transportation, a Tuk Tuk and a boat, Aya and Bobby start to explore Bangkok. They visit popular sites such as the Temple of Dawn, Royal Grand Palace, and more. The next set of adventures finds them on a Thai beach. Here they combine their activities with things they already love, swimming and ice cream, while still learning about things that are unique to Thailand. For example, they try new food, learn about the animals in the ocean, and even learn to fly a kite.

The publishers gave me a copy of the book for review purposes. All thoughts are my own.

Pin this image to your favorite book or family travel board.

Discover Thailand, a review

First, I want to mention how much I love the drawings in this book. I’m not an expert on illustration, but the style of drawing and coloring enhances the feel of Thailand. The busy Bangkok scenes feel busy, while there is a calmness when Aya and Bobby are at the beach.

I also appreciate how relatable Aya and Bobby are. My kids were excited to not only share the relative ages of Aya and Bobby, but they also have the same pajamas. In the same color.

As I mentioned early, Discover Thailand gives a realistic view of what a trip to Thailand looks like for kids. I like the combination of the many unfamiliar new sites, with the reminder of the familiar activities kids have even though they’re far from home. The stop at the beach and to eat ice cream adds a realness. This is what family vacation is all about. It’s about finding a way to make it enjoyable for all everyone. It’s not just an endless loop of learning and discovering. Don’t get me wrong, learning and exploring are vital aspects of traveling. However, it’s nice for kids to see that they can still do things, like eat ice cream or learn to fly a kite, while on vacation.

Still, the book succeeds at discovering Thailand, too. Kids will learn about the transportation, popular sites, animals, and activities that Thailand is known for. Use it as a jumping point for learning more about the country. I have some links below that work to gain further information about some of those things.

Pack ‘n Go girl, Izzy Bennett, just docked in the lagoon at Barra de Navidad in Mexico. But it’s not the fun in the sun vacation she was hoping for. First of all, it’s not busy. And it should be. She wonders what’s going on. Her family arrives to learn that most visitors are avoiding the place. So, what’s keeping tourists away and can Izzy do anything to help? First, let’s find out who the Pack ‘n Go Girls are.

About the Pack ‘n Go Girls Series

This book is the first of several from the Pack ‘n Go Girls series I will be reviewing in the coming weeks. Who are the Pack ‘n Go Girls? They are a diverse set of girls on separate adventures around the world with their families. These chapter books by either Janelle Diller or Lisa Travis are perfect early chapter books for kids between the ages of six and nine. The illustrations by Adam Turner, shared sporadically throughout the book, help readers visualize the story.

You can find all of their books and additional information via their website.

Pack ‘n Go Girls provided me with the books for review, but all opinions are my own.

Mystery of the Thief in the Night

Izzy Bennett has a lot on her mind. She’s with her family aboard the Dream Catcher for a year-long sailing trip around Mexico. And that’s got her worried. Worried about the boat crashing into another boat, being overtaken by a wave, or getting lost.

She’s also concerned about find friends with each new place she visits.

When the boat docks at the lagoon at Barra de Navidad her emotions are all over the place. They’re not sailing, so they’re safe. But, where are the kids? She immediately finds and befriends a local girl named Patti. Patti’s mom owns the local hotel and restaurant.

Through Patti Izzy soon discovers that the lagoon is no longer a popular tourist destination. It’s now a very dangerous place.

She learns that a thief has been stealing dinghies at night. Scared tourists don’t want to dock in Barra de Navidad anymore, and this is hurting Patti’s family’s business. Unfortunately, once suspicion turns to Patti’s brother, they decide it’s up to them to clear his name.

They make it their mission to find the thief. Do they succeed? Well, I can’t give it away!

Pin this review of Mystery of the Thief in the Night and buy the book here.

Mystery of the Thief in the Night book review

Whether you are interested in the culture of Mexico for purely educational reasons, or if Mexico is in your travel plans, this book is a good fit. Budding readers will enjoy a good chapter book that’s easier to read, but has a mystery to propel the story.

And the story does propel. Mystery of the Thief in the Night accomplishes a lot of things. It’s a mystery with a strong sense of place. It shares the experiences and difficulties of long term travel and life in a tourist town. It examines how kids in different cultures deal with family relations and obligations. And it does this while still remembering that the reader is between the ages of six and nine.

How do they accomplish this? Well, I think a lot of it has to do with the strong character development. Patti and Izzy share their personal life perspectives that, while unique and so different from most kids, are easily relatable. Because of that, we get a good glimpse into their worlds.

The main characters: Izzy and Patti

Take Izzy. She’s having this amazing experience sailing with her family, but she has concerns like any other girl her age would have. She finds ways to push through those fears and faces them. She’s both reserved about these opportunities, but ready to face them. We learn so much about her life, things young readers might question. Her formal education doesn’t stop just because she’s away from school. She still has math homework, for example. She’s hesitant to practice her Spanish even though she’s in Mexico.

Best of all, we see Mexico through her lens. Her observations fall in line with what the intended audience may be interested in learning about Mexico.

Through Patti, we get to enhance our knowledge of Mexico. We learn more about some of the things young kids in Mexico might be doing. This includes things like the food they eat, their language, and what their school day is like. Patti also acts as a way for the reader to question Izzy’s life. Patti notices that the Bennett family must be wealthy to sail for a year. Any kid reading would be questioning this lifestyle. For me, as a mom who hopes to one day take my own kids on an extended trip, I appreciate how this part of the story is explained.

Additional Resources

The book also has additional resources to help kids learn more about Mexico. This includes a map with geography highlights, fast facts, information for travelers, a kid-friendly recipe, an Engish-Spanish dictionary and pronunciation guide of common words and phrases, and a small section to jot down notes for planning a trip to Mexico. Their website, Pack ‘n Go Girls, provides photos of Barra de Navidad and even more tools to learn about Mexico.

Ready to read it for yourself? You can purchase the book on Amazon here.

*Please note: My father grew up near Springfield and visits to this part of Massachusetts were a huge part of my childhood. So my fascination with it all is partly due to the legend of Dr. Seuss and partly due to being nostalgic of my childhood road trips. I visited many of these areas of Springfield growing up, but never knew that they were associated with Dr. Seuss. So imagine my surprise. As I write about the sites to see, I can’t help but share my excitement and sidenotes on these discoveries.

The Boy on Fairfield Street, a review

Geisel’s life in Springfield wasn’t ideal. Sure, it started out nice. He lived near the library and the zoo. He played outside with his friends, had interesting neighbors, and talked about animals and books over dinner. Then things shifted. Geisel was a German boy in early 1900s America. People were growing more suspicious of German immigrants every day. His friends were no longer friends.

On top of that, Geisel wasn’t an athlete. Instead, he drew. He loved drawing. His teachers felt different about his ability. They told him he’d never make it as an artist.

The final straw could have been when the former president, Teddy Roosevelt, failed to give him a boy scouts medal while he was on the platform with the rest of the troop. He was humiliated.

His high school years were devoted to music, drawing, and writing for the school newspaper. After high school, he left Springfield for Dartmouth and never returned there to live.

My Thoughts

The Boy on Fairfield Street goes into details of Geisel’s Springfield life and his life afterward. It explains why he became Dr. Seuss and his story up until he lived in Greenwich City as a twenty-two-year-old.

When the book’s story officially ends, they do an awesome job of talking about Dr. Seuss’s accomplishments after his time in Springfield. This includes the interesting tidbit of the book And To Think That I Saw it On Mulberry Street, his first book. Many people think the story is about a street in New York, but it’s actually a fantasy based off of his life and neighborhood in Springfield.

When he was 82 years old, Seuss visited Springfield for the last time. He met with fans. I can only imagine how it felt to return to a place that, practically, shunned him to crowds of fans. Many fans yelled out, “we love you!” He was seen wiping his tears away.

The following year he wrote Oh, The Places You’ll Go, his last book. It went full circle, I think. A fitting end title for this man.

If you’re a huge Dr. Seuss fan, The Boy on Fairfield Street is a must. If you’re not, I still highly recommend it. His story is fascinating and left me wanting to know more. I was happy to be in Springfield to be able to see some of the places that made him who he became. Buy the book on Amazon.

Details:

Written by: Kathleen Krull

Illustrated by: Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher

Age Range: 5 – 9 years

Publisher: Dragonfly Books; Reprint edition (January 12, 2010)

ISBN-10: 0375855505

Springfield, Massachusetts for Dr. Seuss fans

Dr. Seuss’s childhood home in Springfield, Massachusetts

First. Look at that. That Cat in the Hat picture. Do you see it? This photo was taken in 2016 and I love that they commemorate the house with that image still today.

This is a real neighborhood. When we drove through, it was a pretty quiet day. This photo was taken from the passanger’s seat. I don’t like walking around neighborhoods that aren’t my own, so I didn’t. I only drove past the house a couple of times.

If you want to spend more time in the places he visited, check out the next stop.

The Zoo at Forest Park & Forest Park Public Library

Though the book doesn’t specify, the zoo and library at Forest Park are the closest to Geisel’s childhood home. Perhaps this is the zoo his dad worked at, the place that sparked his love of animals. And this is likely the library that gave him his love of stories. Together they inspired the books that have inspired children all over the world.

Address to the Zoo: 302 Sumner Ave, Springfield, MA

Address to the Library:380 Belmont Ave, Springfield, MA

Side note gush: I was surprised to learn that the Bright Nights drive-through Christmas light show that I attended years ago is at Forest Park. If you’re in the area during the holiday season, be sure to check it out.

The Springfield Museums

The Springfield Museums are comprised of four separate museums celebrating art, science, history, and the Dr. Seuss Sculpture Garden. There’s one entrance fee, they offer an amazing military discount, and even then non-Seuss stuff is worth a visit. However, I only focus on Seuss’s story at the Springfield Museums below.

Address: 21 Edwards Street, Springfield, MA

The Dr. Seuss SculptureNatural Memorial Sculpture Garden makes the characters from the book come alive.

The Wood Museum of Springfield History includes the exhibit, And To Think That He Saw It In Springfield. The website explains,

Springfield native Dr. Seuss is a household name, but many people don’t realize that the buildings, people and landscapes from his childhood in Springfield appear again and again in his books. This exhibit includes some remarkable comparisons of his fanciful illustrations with actual photographs of places and things in Springfield that he would have known.

In June 2017 the Springfield Museum hopes to open The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss museum. The museum will honor his life with artifacts from his life, have an interactive element for kids, and encourage literacy. While the museum is still under construction you can donate to the cause and read more about it here.

Other stops that influenced Dr. Seuss in Springfield

The Wood Museum of Springfield mentions several places that inspired Dr. Seuss around Springfield. Some of those places no longer exist, but here are a few that do. Take the time to visit the museum to learn more about the inspiration places, the books they’re part of, and the story around them.

The Barney Mausoleum in Forest Park reappears in different forms in several of his books.

The Howard Street Armory‘s castle-like building could have been the source for castle-like buildings in Seuss’s books.

Hotel Recommendations for a visit to Springfield, Massachusetts

Sheraton Springfield at Monarch Place is one of the closest hotels to the museums, however the reviews from visiting families talk about its need for updated rooms and better service. While location seems to be the reason most stay here, it’s worth reconsidering.

Another option is the Hilton Garden Inn Springfield. While families give it mixed reviews, I like the location. It’s right next to the Basketball Hall of Fame. That might not have anything to do with Dr. Seuss, but we really enjoyed learning more about basketball during our visit. And we’re not even big basketball fans. Plus, the riverside hotel may inline with some of the views Seuss experienced as a child.

We always stay at the Residence Inn in West Springfield. It’s convenient to the other sites we take in during our visit, but still convenient to Springfield. While the reviews suggest that there may be some updates needed, we didn’t have any issues during our stay the summer of 2016.

Where else can you find Dr. Seuss?

If you can’t make it to Springfield, but still want to satisfy the Dr. Seuss fan in your home, here are other options around the United States to consider:

Dr. Seuss in Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH

After leaving Springfield, Seuss went to college at Dartmouth. It was here that he started using the name Dr. Seuss. And although Dr. Seuss was not a medical doctor (or a doctor), the medical school at Dartmouth was eventually named “The Audrey and Theodor Geisel School of Medicine”. Audrey Geisel was Seuss’s second wife. Also not a doctor. But, she was a nurse. NPR wrote a fun article about it that’s definitely worth a read.

Dr. Seuss in other places

Universal Studios Islands of Adventure in Orlando, FL dedicates one whole land, Seuss Landing, to Seuss icons. I actually worked at this theme park when it first opened. Several things surprised me about Seuss Landing that have stuck in my memory ever since.

First, there are no straight lines. Like Dr. Seuss’s illustrations, Seuss Landing is curvy and wavy. Even the trees. The trees in the park were flown in from Homestead, FL. They’re all permanently bent because of 1992’s category 4 hurricane Andrew. (I also lived in Homestead, FL as a child and left right before the hurricane, so this makes the park extra special to me.)

The second cool thing. I used to exit through Seuss Landing if my shift ended after closing. You wouldn’t know it was night, though, because there were flood lights everywhere. Maintenance staff touched up the paint every night. I guess that’s why the colors are always so bright!

I haven’t been to the park in years, but my blogging friend at Carrie on Travel has a great guide to all the cool features you can find at Seuss Landing today.

In Austin, TX, Seuss’s art is on permanent display at Art on 5th. If you can’t make it to Austin, you can tour the exhibit via a youtube link on their site.

I recently joined the Barefoot Books Ambassador Program. For those unfamiliar with Barefoot Books, I’ll quote from their about us page which says:

Children need diverse, inclusive and inspiring books.

This is what we’re all about. From the very beginning, our books have opened windows to other cultures and perspectives, while also providing children of all backgrounds and abilities with a much-needed mirror of their own experiences.

Their message very closely aligns with things I believe in. And I loved looking through their catalog of books and recognizing so many titles.

What does this mean?

For this site, what this means is that I’ll have even more books to add to our directory.

Within the next month, I will be hosting a Facebook party to promote some favorites. I’m also available to co-host a Facebook party if you want to earn some free books for yourself. Or, if your personal passion also lies in diverse books for children and you’d like to join the Barefoot Books Ambassador team, I can help support you through that as well. This is the only time I will mention this on this web page. Interested in keeping up-to-date with any of those things listed? Join my closed Facebook Group (very recently created) by clicking here.

On this site and this blog, though, you can expect the same things you’ve always had. Book reviews, author interviews, book round-ups, and family travel tips both within and outside of the world of Barefoot Books.

A Review of the Barefoot Book of Children

This book is by the people that bring us Barefoot Books. Before you read any further, know this. I love this book. It’s the perfect introduction to a year of learning about other cultures and people. Why? Well first let me tell you more about the book.

The Barefoot Book of Children is an illustration-packed book. Each page shares images of children around the world living their life. So we see kids at school, home, or play. But, since these are children all over the world, what their school, home, or play looks different. What I appreciated the most about this is that while we’re seeing these examples of how kids all over do things, we’re often asked to think about our own school, home, and play. Instead of there being just one way to do things, there are many ways, and by including the reader in that conversation, it connects us.

Another plus for the book is the lack of labels. Look at the image above. The story showcases a variety of homes. None are labeled.There’s nothing pointing out that it’s a Mongolian yurt, an American apartment, or a Southeast Asian stilt house. These are all just homes. They come in all shapes and sizes. By not labeling the images we can see the differences of the homes without concentrating on the stereotypes often portrayed when talking about other cultures.

Each portion of the story does the same. We get a quick overview of the variety of the world, then the opportunity to examine our own lives. By the end of the story, we feel special. Seriously, the book just makes us feel special.

But, if you think the feel good ending is where it stops – you’re wrong.

When the story finishes, the book isn’t over. You still have 15 pages of end notes that correspond with the story. The end notes are jumping points for more discussion. As you’ll see in the image above, the children and homes are now labeled. Why? For more information. You can follow your children’s interests to learn more about the specifics in the book. This aid helps you plan for what the next learning opportunity will be. Does the farmhouse in Scotland have your child wondering about other aspects of Scottish life? Well, now you know. Is your child now even more interested in their own place in this world? That’s perfect. What a great way to delve into a year of cultural learning!

Kids Travel Books is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.